February 28, 2018

Headlines

Due to the need to make up a previous snow day, school WILL be in session Friday, February 16. However, there will be no school Monday, February 19 in observation of the Presidents Day holiday. There will also be no classes on Tuesday, February 20 to allow for teacher in-service. The regular school schedule will resume Wednesday, February 21.

Pre-registration for Derry Township children who will be 5 years of age before September 1, 2018 and plan to attend kindergarten this coming fall is NOW OPEN. Click the graphic for additional information and to begin the online pre-registration process. Remember: The online pre-registration does not complete the enrollment process; parents and guardians should also plan to complete registration during sessions held at the Early Childhood Center.

The 2018 Community Resources & Summer Camp Fair hosted by Derry Township School District which was previously postponed due to bad weather has been rescheduled for Wednesday, February 28. Join us between 4 and 6 p.m. at Hershey Middle School to meet local providers from around the area who welcome students with disabilities.

Tickets for the HHS Theatre musical “Peter Pan” are available for online purchase now. There will be four showings, March 1-3. To learn more about the show and to reserve your seats, simply click the graphic.

Derry Township School District has joined the growing wave of opposition to Senate Bill 2, with the DTSD Board of School Directors unanimously adopting a formal resolution expressing its concern. “We are not opposed to choice, but it must be fair and equitable for all. This bill is neither,” said Superintendent Joe McFarland. (Click the headline for more.)

Derry Township School District is looking for individuals interested in training as bus drivers for the 2017-2018 school year. No previous bus driving experience is required – just the ability to train for and obtain a Commercial Driver’s License and the motivation to give our students a positive start and end to the school day. Interested individuals may contact Steve Bell, Director of Transportation, by phone at 566-7422.

Sixth Grader Joey Owsley used his knowledge of the names of the Japanese home islands, to “map out” a victory over runner-up Matt Cysyk and 16 other finalists in the annual Hershey Middle School Geography Bee. For his victory, Joey received a medal and a chance to take the state Geography Bee qualifying test. Matt received a special copy of a world map courtesy of the National Geographic Society.

Congratulations to the cast and crews of HHS Theatre's Fall Play for earning a Hershey Theatre Apollo Awards nomination for Outstanding Play! Congratulations, as well, to Cameron Brown and Alex Winnick, both of whom earned nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play, and to Paige Randall, who garnered an Honorable Mention for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play. Kudos also go out to Josephine Gawrys, who earned the Spirit of the Theatre Award for the Fall Play.

Hershey High School sophomore Madelyn Morrison can count herself among the state’s best bakers. Using recipes from the Culinary Arts I class at HHS, she took home three ribbons at the recent Pennsylvania Farm Show: 1st Place for Cloud Biscuits and two 2nd Place finishes with Marble Cookies and Blueberry Muffins.

Congratulations to Hershey High School students Alex Winnick, Daniela Farias and Smitha Ramesh who were local place winners in recitation competitions at the Hershey Theatre on January 18, 2018. Daniela and Smitha placed first and second, respectively, in the local Poetry Out Loud contest sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts and Poetry Foundation & Poetry Magazine. Smitha took second with her recitation of “Sweetness” by Stephen Dunn. Daniela recited the poem “Discrimination” by Kenneth Rexroth and will now represent HHS at a regional competition in March at the WITF studios in Harrisburg. Alex won The English-Speaking Union Shakespeare Competition and will be the HHS entrant into the state competition at Lock Haven University.

Jacquelyn Castleman, Principal, Jena Funck, Assistant Principal and Anna Gawel, Assistant Principal are pleased to announce that these students in Grades 2-5 are to be commended for their contributions to a positive school climate during the 2016-2017 school year.

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Blogs

DTSD Superintendent Joe McFarland is part of the “blogosphere.” Check out the Superintendent’s Spotlight blog for insight and information from the district’s top administrator.

DTSD Assistant to the Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Dr. Stacy Winslow offers insights and expertise in her “Curriculum Reflections” blog.

“COCOA Connections” focuses on events and happenings at the Hershey Elementary Schools, covering the district’s Early Childhood Center, Primary Elementary and Intermediate Elementary.

Anonymous Alerts

During the 2017-2018 School Year, the district will be piloting a new technology-based tool called Anonymous Alerts that students can use to report: drug or alcohol related issues, bullying/cyberbullying, violent behavior/threats and other campus safety hazards. Reports may be made at any time, but Anonymous Alerts® should NOT be used to report emergency, urgent or time-critical concerns. At DTSD, the Anonymous Alerts® system will be monitored from 7:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. on days when school is in session. Reports submitted at other times will be addressed the next scheduled school day.